Household Repairs Rotting at top. If rot has not progressed too far, cut out soft spots and fill with plastic wood. Saturate entire top of column with pentachlorophenol wood preservative. Slip a sheet of aluminum or copper flashing over top, bend it down around the edges and tack. Base rotting. Cut out base entirely and make a new one to fit. Cut a cross-shaped groove in bottom, 1/2 inch deep by half the width of base so that air can circulate under it. Soak for 24 hours in pentachlorophenol and set in position.

If column stands on masonry and has no base, cut rotten part off square. Purchase box-like metal base made for the purpose. With a carbide drill, make a hole in the masonry under the column. Set in bolt, threads up, and anchor it with concrete mortar or plastic steel. Set box over bolt and fasten down with nut. Nail or screw other half of box to bottom of post and set it in bottom half of box.

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November 20, 2008